FOOD, BODY IMAGE, AND THE WHOLE DIET-AND-EXERCISE DRAMA
There’s a lot more to our struggles with food and our bodies than calories, willpower, or trying harder.
Here, I explore the assumptions behind the traditional diet-and-exercise model, why so many familiar solutions keep us stuck, and what changes when we approach food, exercise, and our bodies from a completely different perspective.
Some posts are personal. Some challenge conventional wisdom. And some might make you laugh.
Browse the articles below. Start wherever you're curious.
Why Coke’s “Happy Calories” Ad Got It All Wrong
When Coke launched their "140 Happy Calories" ad, my first thought was — they just hijacked my brand. My second thought was that they'd missed the entire point. Here's why the ad got pulled, and why the real problem runs deeper than anyone noticed.
How Staying Present With Your Body Leads to Sustainable Weight Loss
My husband and I were walking on railroad tracks at a park when something unexpected came out of my mouth — and it taught me everything about how we're supposed to relate to food, exercise, and our bodies. Here's what happened.
The Emotional Eating Myth That’s Actually Making Things Worse
Everyone thinks they know what emotional eating is — and everyone thinks it's bad. But the definition most people are working from is based on a completely false premise. Here's what emotional eating actually is, and why the real problem is something else entirely.
Why Happiness Is the Real Source of Personal Power
Three friends, three completely different problems — divorce, financial crisis, a diet that wasn't working. But they were all feeling exactly the same thing: powerless. Here's what I think we get wrong about power, happiness, and why our circumstances don't actually determine either one.
Why Advertisers Keep Making You Feel Bad About Your Body (And How to Stop Them)
My husband plays piano in bars. His job is to read the room and play whatever keeps people happy and spending money. Advertisers work exactly the same way — and once you see that, their power over you completely changes.